Reviews by Bachrach

Volstead (Bar)
29 August 2006

Mark my words, this is the next best thing in London!!

Fabric (Club)
25 July 2006

A clubber's club.

Aura (Bar)
25 July 2006

You may want to give this spot a pass if you can't stomach the £11 vodka mixer. For those of you blessed with a six-figure salary or rich parents, this place is for you.

Though it has been around for years, Aura continues to impress. You need to know when to go (dead on Thursday, mad on Friday), and who to go with (the most beautiful and best-dressed of your friends). Try to get there a bit early if you don't have a table; the place is a restaurant and reaches capacity at around 1.00. Door policy is typical of any West End members' club, so expect to queue or be sent away.

If you're able to get in, prepare to go mad and jump onto table tops, which double as dance floors! Once the great music gets loud and the alcohol starts pouring, the crazy beautiful international crowd tear the place apart.

Given how expensive drinks are, it's probably worth paying the £500 minimum spend on a table. At least you'll get your own table to dance on!

Eclipse (Bar)
04 May 2006

Mixed feeling about this place. Yes it's full of pretentious people, the drinks are expensive and the bouncers are rude. It's very small and crowded and you may end up standing. If you don't often these sort of places then Eclipse isn't for you.

For me, I like it, it has a nice crowd, a mix of the Chelsea and internationals. People are beautiful, a lot of socializing going on, and the cocktails are pretty good. If you're a regular the staff will be nice and friendly. It helps if you tip.

Perfect place to meet friends on weekdays or pre-club drinks on weekends.

All Star Lanes (Bar / Diner / Indoor Sports Venue)
04 May 2006

Amazing fun time. I can't wait to go back. Only problem is there aren't many bowling lanes so it could take forever to get a chance to play. Best to book a lane ahead of time.

Nobu Berkeley (Restaurant)
04 May 2006

Great decor - not Hakkasan, but still great. The bar was nicely laid out and had amazing cocktails. The service was probably the best so far in London. Waiter was very helpful and friendly. The food... it's Nobu.

Only problem was how the tables were laid out upstairs. Some tables seemed a bit overcrowded. Maybe dimming the lights a bit would help.

If you haven't been there yet then you need to make this place next on your list.

Cocoon (Restaurant)
04 May 2006

Great new hang-out. The crowd is beautiful, trendy, hot and mix of old and young, both locals and internationals. The music is a great change from the commercial garbage you hear in clubs. The cocktails are some of the best in London. Bar staff very friendly. The decor is different from what I have seen anywhere and I love how the decor reflects the idea of a cocoon and all!

I haven't tried the food since I go there after 11pm to enjoy the great drinks and the late night DJ.

Only problem, not enough bathrooms for when the restaurant turns into a late night lounge. The bar staff can decide you've have one to many drinks and decide not to serve you anymore, especially after 2am. If you plan to enjoy Cocoon after midnight be sure your guest listed, not everyone can come in.

Umbaba (Club)
04 May 2006

Nice decor and lay-out. Good door staff. Good boy-girl ratio and clean bathrooms. That's about it. Really think the place is overrated.

Drinks were really bad, bar tender didn't seem to know what he was doing. Some VIP tables are badly laid-out, smack on the dance floor leaving no space to dance. The crowd was filled with a bunch of "try-hards" who didn't seem really used to the London club scene. No real international crowd. Stayed there for less than an hour.

To be fair, it was a Thursday. I might give the place a second chance on a weekend.

Crazy Bear (Bar)
04 May 2006

When I first walked in I thought I was in a pub. Then I realized this is more of an English restaurant. I had to ask someone if I was really at Crazy Bear since the decor doesn't say "Thai."

The service is good and helpful. The cocktails were great and they had a good wine list. The food was similar to any other good Thai place for the same price. The decor is comfortable and quiet and seems to appeal more to the older crowd. It's perfect for a date but don't go there with a group of your friends.

Make sure you visit the bar downstairs for drinks, younger crowds tend to like the lounge downstairs better.

Roka (Restaurant / Restaurant)
21 April 2006

The food is really so good that you can't seem to stop ordering more. The service is ok. A bit crowded and laid back, great for a relaxing time with friends.

Book as early as possible, they are full on each day of the week.

Try the bar downstairs, very hip place with great drinks.

Shochu Lounge (Bar)
21 April 2006

(No Comment)

Chinawhite (Club)
06 April 2006

For a club that's been around for at least 5 years, Chinawhite is still going strong.

I went there on a Wed night and had a great time. Chinawhite was much more than what I had expected.

Doormen and staff, who I expected to be extremely rude, were very friendly. The club's décor is probably the best in all of London clubs; all the white and red dragons, Asian umbrellas and beach stones in the bathroom are unique to any other club I've been to. The drinks are really good, prices similar to any other London club.

The clients, probably the most beautiful I've seen in any London club and it wasn't even a weekend. I seriously could not tell the staff from the clubbers, everyone was gorgeous and perfect ratio of guys to girls. Even some footballers.

After my first visit, I can see why Chinawhite is still open. I'm definitely going back next Wed.

Paper (Club)
06 April 2006

I booked a table almost a month ago at this new West End club for a birthday party. The doormen and staff are pretty friendly and helpful compared to other London clubs.

I read in other reviews that the club had spent a total of £750,000 on decoration which I highly doubt as the high ceilings and layout resembled a restaurant more than a club. The DJ could not be any worse. The majority of people were guys, 3:1 ratio. Prices are typical of any other London club.

Regardless, we did enjoy our time, which had more to do with the company rather than the club itself.

I believe the club tries too hard to become the next big thing and reach the status of other clubs like Tantra, Movida and Chinawhite. Seriously doubt it will happen unless they change their door policy to be more exclusive, and do something about the terrible DJ.

Lucky Voice Karaoke (Bar)
31 March 2006

Just an amazing time with good friends. They have a huge selection of songs and great drinks. We tried the food, which to our surprise was really good.

Maybe a bit expensive but worth the good laugh.

Asia de Cuba (Restaurant / Restaurant)
10 March 2006

Just amazing food. Amazing service. Amazing bar. I am going back very soon.

Mo*vida (Club / Members' Club)
10 March 2006

Pretty much everyone I know talks about Movida and how great it is. So right after a good Saturday dinner, a friend and I decided to check it out. Even though I wasn't really feeling it, I had to get the Movida craze out of my system.

I arrive there to see three gorgeous girls literally on one knee begging the bouncer to let them in. The queue wasn't that long because the doormen were telling people to get lost. I stood there with my very beautiful friend and had to wait about 30 minutes, until two more female friends arrived, for them to let us in. Off course the doorman expected a big tip for not letting us queue.

I go to the dance floor, and within 2 minutes am walking outside towards the door. It was filled with smelly, sweaty, 18 yr old guys. I've never smelt a club this bad in London. On our way out we saw this side bar, restaurant bar I think, so we decided to hang out there with a bit of an older crowd who couldn't put up with all the kids on the dance floor. Since it was already late we decided not to stay long. It took us 30 minutes just to get our coats.

There are beautiful people and good music, but other London clubs offer much more. I expected more from the "best" club in London and it was not really as exclusive as I thought it would be. My advice is to try to get in with a table and on weekdays rather then weekends.

M1NT (Members' Club)
17 February 2006

Went there with a very large group of friends. Very posh older crowd, so-so music. The decor is amazing and the VIP seating is great. Unfortunately the place is very small though, and the service the worst and slowest I've encountered in any club. (Halfway through the night I was walking to the bar begging for clean glasses and refilling my own ice!)... Good for a drink or two before heading to another club.

Funky Buddha (Club)
17 February 2006

Like with all other clubs in London, if you've got cash and fun friends you'll have a great time.

We booked a table on a Saturday night, since this was the only club in London who had table at 10pm. We went in, a group of 6, and were welcomed by a friendly manager who took us right away to our table.

The waiter was very helpful. Drinks were what I expected in any West End club. The fast service was definitely a plus. Nice mixed crowd, great music, lovely decor...

Only thing I hated was that they charged us £10 at the door. I wouldn't mind paying it, but when you book a VIP table and are expected to throw away half a grand or more it would be nice if they let you in for free!

Tantra (Club)
17 February 2006

To be fair to the place, Tantra is probably the only place where I'm guaranteed to have an AMAZING time. Yet I choose not to go there any more...

To enjoy Tantra, first you've got to be rude to the staff at the door and act as if you own the place. This is the only way they won't be rude to you and will probably let you in without having to wait. Of course, you've got to be dressed pretty good, and the smaller the group the better.

Expect to spend at least £50 per person. This is if you're in the common area. The real fun is in the VIP. There a table for, say, 6 people could ring up £500 at least. Remember to tip well if you plan on coming back - they will remember you.

The reason I've stopped going is because the place has become more of a rich kid hang-out. Many young Russian/Arab kids spending parents' money. Groups of 5 guys and one beautiful lady are common. The music, although great, never changes, and the ratio of men to women can put you off any urge to dance on the common dance floor.

Still worth a try though for a taste of a good Arabic/hip hop mix of music.